Free Dearly Loved by Bonnie Blythe Page A

the bed and jumped in his lap. “Bitsy, get down!”
    The dog ignored Meredith and looked up at David with a plea in his eyes. David ruffled the fur on its head.
    “Is this that stray dog you were telling me about? He’s cute.”
    “I only brought him with me because I can’t stand to leave him home all day on my day off. He’s alone too much as it is.”
    Bitsy proceeded to perform a series of doggy tricks. David praised and cheered him on while the pup seemed to go on to new heights to impress him.
    David glanced up at Meredith with a smile. “He can stay on my lap. Maybe he’ll eat up all the crumbs in my bed before you find them and give me a lecture about cleanliness.”
    She threw the ball of wrappers at him, hitting him squarely on the nose.
    David batted it away. “Hey! Don’t quit your day job!”
     
     
    Seven
     
     
    It was evening before Meredith had David’s kitchen unpacked and organized. Many of the boxes had been labeled, so she didn’t have to worry about finding anything incriminating, as David had so aptly put it. He’d been out of her life for a dozen years. How would she know private things might be packed away? A black book? Photos of former girlfriends? She shuddered, glad she hadn’t discovered anything of the sort.
    Along with the kitchen, she also finished unpacking for the bathroom, linen closet, and some of the boxes for his bedroom. She noticed his towels were a trifle threadbare, the same for his sheets. From the scant supplies, it was obvious David hadn’t lived in one place for too long. There were no knick-knacks or decor of any kind to unpack as far as she had found—unless she included the awards, trophies, and soccer memorabilia. There were boxes and boxes of those. She left them packed, not quite knowing what to do with them.
    The grumbling of her stomach reminded her she’d forgotten to eat lunch. Between unpacking and taking care of David and Bitsy, she was exhausted. Now I have to come up with something for dinner. What would David think about delivery pizza? She felt too tired to cook a healthy meal. Besides, pizza was healthier than cinnamon rolls and candy bars.
    The doorbell rang. Bitsy came out of David’s bedroom and barked in the living room. Meredith opened the front door and found a man with several white bags marked with the name of a Chinese food restaurant. The man handed her the bags and turned to go.
    “Uh, wait, I haven’t paid you.”
    He smiled. “It’s paid for. The tip, too.”
    Figuring David must’ve paid with a credit card by phone, she inhaled the heavenly aroma of Kung Pao chicken. If that smell could be bottled, she’d wear it as a perfume.
    “Merrie?” David called from his bedroom. “Was that the food?”
    With the dog dancing about her feet, she brought the bags into his room. She set them in the space he’d cleared on his nightstand.
    “Your dinner came.”
    “Our dinner. Do you really think I’d only order for myself?”
    Meredith shrugged. “I’ll get your walker and help you into the kitchen.” Then she remembered he didn’t have a dinette set—just a couple of stools next to the kitchen counter.
    “Why don’t you grab some plates and napkins and bring them in here,” he said. “I’m more comfortable where I am.”
    Noting there was no chair in his room, or anywhere else in the apartment for that matter, Meredith wondered where she’d sit. The floor was the only option. A few minutes later, she returned with plates, napkins, and silverware.
    David scooted to one side of the bed and patted the other with his hand. Bitsy responded with alacrity, jumping up next to him.
    “Not you, you little fuzzball,” he said pushing the dog off the bed. “I meant your master. Or mistress. Whatever you call it.” He looked up at her and smiled.
    Meredith hated the way she blushed at every little thing. “Thanks, but I’ll sit on the floor.”
    David sighed. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s plenty of room here. We can